Stuck pedal found on 4runner. Not good..

[SkylineGTRracer]

Don't the rest of the Toyota line up also have the annoying electric relay on the side of the master cylinder as well? I just got back from hanging with "the boys" and on his Taco the master cylinder looks like a GM product meaning no computer on it. I know the Lexus being a Lexus has the push start button. Does the brake pedal use the same system as the accelerator? I'm guessing yes but not sure. I did however drive by 2 Toyota dealers on the way to school and they are packed but only in the service lanes! I really feel for those techs staying open 24/7.

 

[teston]

Michael Teston's account of what happened...

This is what happened to my husband's 4runner. He did not have his foot on the gas and he is not looking to jump in on the Toyota issue. This happened to him in December, ABC didn't stir everything up until January. Michael loves his 4runner and wished this never happened. The Toyota Dealership brought the SUV to our house and parked in our driveway. They could not care less about this problem. Michael is not an idiot or an opportunist.


"I was coming into Dewitt Arkansas on highway165 on 12/13/09 at about 12:30pm with my cruise control on at about 60 mph. I tapped the brake to disengage the cruise control and slowed down to make a right hand turn into an Exxon Mini Mart. My 2006 toyota 4runner suddenly accelerated as I attempted to stop near the front door. As I applied pressure to the brakes I heard the anti lock brakes clicking and suddenly the 4runner lunged forward striking a large pole that was in front of me. The rear wheels were spinning wildly and the back end was bouncing up and down. The 4runner was bouncing to the side and I slammed the shift lever into park. The power to the back wheels stopped. I sat back and took my foot off the brake pedal, then I noticed that the engine was still running wide open throttle. I reached up and turned the key off. I looked at the floor mat and it was in its normal location with no contact with the gas pedal. The tow hooks were attached holding the floor mat in place. There was no way it could have been involved. Two employees came out and asked if I was okay. I told them I was okay, but scared to death. I told them I had heard about toyotas having a sudden acceleration problem, but I never thought I would be involved in one. I had to walk around a while to calm down. I got the employees names and phone numbers in case I needed them. I went back outside and started the 4runner up again and it ran normal. I drove it to my Dad's and left it there. I called the toyota dealer the next day and had them come pick it up. The dealer had a local technician check it out. They said they could find nothing wrong and said I should come and get it. I told them that was unacceptable. They had a regional specialized field technician evaluate it. He said that there was no safety hazard with my 4runner. The dealer wants me to come and get the vehicle. Nothing has been fixed or repaired."

 

[smac5150]

Longtime lurker, just joined after purchasing a 2007 CPO 4Runner back in Oct. I read the post and I'm wondering if the stuck pedal issue this references is software related to cruse control. After getting my new ride I was traveling on highway playing with the cruse. I noticed that tapping the break would slow it down but not disengage cruse and I would get back up to my set speed. I can pull the cruse lever towards me and it will then disengage and start slowing down.

Anyone else have notice this or am I just crazy.

 

[teston]

When Michael called the Toyota dealership to report what had happened, the first person that he talked to was a receptionist. She asked him if had the criuse control on.

 

[Kmvreter]

This is what happened to my husband's 4runner...

Thanks for the information.
Did you report or log the complaint on the NHTSA site?

 

[Kmvreter]

... I noticed that tapping the break would slow it down but not disengage cruse and I would get back up to my set speed. I can pull the cruse lever towards me and it will then disengage and start slowing down.

Anyone else have notice this or am I just crazy.

Yes, I've noticed this. Lightly "tapping" the brake peddle doesn't disengage my cruise. I have to "press" the peddle to the point where I can feel some braking starting. Not sure how to quantify the amount of peddle movement before the cruise disengages. My previous ride had a mechanical throttle cable and cruise cable system. It took more movement than my T4R to disengage so I consider this normal operation. It would be different if the cruise did not disengage at all after pressing the brake and starting to slow down.

 

[teston]

Thanks for the information.
Did you report or log the complaint on the NHTSA site?

Yes, after Toyota delivered the suv to our driveway. Michael filed a complaint with the NHTSA, and the AG's office. I started a group on Facebook to try to find others with the same problem. Michael contacted Safety Research & Strategies, Inc. and told them the story. He has been on ABC World News, Local news stations and in news papers. We were fighting this before ABC started pushing Toyota. We have a dangerous suv that we can not drive or sale. All we want is for Toyota to buy the SUV back from us.

teston

 

[p911]

Hello all, I am a new member of the board. We have a 2008 V6 SR5 4runner bought new, love the truck, and have about 13K miles so far. This vehicle has an odd habit which we had minimized until the gas pedal, floor mat, software issue surfaced. Maybe once a month or so, sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle will suddenly surge a little, and is controlled easily with the brake, then it goes away. Like an increase of RPM 500 to 800 from idle for just a second or so. Weird. I am wondering, is this is a concern? Anyone else ever have this issue?
Glenn

 

[RTAYLOR]

Hello all, I am a new member of the board. We have a 2008 V6 SR5 4runner bought new, love the truck, and have about 13K miles so far. This vehicle has an odd habit which we had minimized until the gas pedal, floor mat, software issue surfaced. Maybe once a month or so, sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle will suddenly surge a little, and is controlled easily with the brake, then it goes away. Like an increase of RPM 500 to 800 from idle for just a second or so. Weird. I am wondering, is this is a concern? Anyone else ever have this issue?
Glenn

Sounds like the notorious "clunk" or the A/C turning off. My $.02

 

[DaBoostCreep]

Hello all, I am a new member of the board. We have a 2008 V6 SR5 4runner bought new, love the truck, and have about 13K miles so far. This vehicle has an odd habit which we had minimized until the gas pedal, floor mat, software issue surfaced. Maybe once a month or so, sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle will suddenly surge a little, and is controlled easily with the brake, then it goes away. Like an increase of RPM 500 to 800 from idle for just a second or so. Weird. I am wondering, is this is a concern? Anyone else ever have this issue?
Glenn

Sounds to me like the "idle up," to support the needed RPM to spin the compressor appropriately and not bog the motor. With the A/C or defrost on this will happen on a cycle.

I can say that the idle up on my V8 is very abrupt sometimes, and will creak the brakes forwards sometimes. I do think its a bit overly aggressive, and could use some tweaking in an ECU flash should there be one.

 

[meatball]

after reading all this stuff posted in this thread, here are some thoughts

here's a wild idea - industrial sabotage in the form of a computer "virus" of sorts...maybe that is a wild idea, but why couldn't it be.

Can't spin 'em in a 4runner, can you? I mean with the traction control, I can't even spin mine on ice...

This lady in pittsburgh went over a hillside in a camry a few months ago...toyota denied that it was throttle related...her car was literally FULL of trash and miscellaneous items, along with homemade carpet remnant floor mats. I think the floor mat issue was a legit one. I also think the throttles are sticking and that is the cause, not electronics.

Here's why i think that: it has been called sudden acceleration or whatever, but i bet it happens after people have a hard time depressing the sticky pedal. They push harder (as any of us would). The pedal the moves, but much further than intended due to the excess pressure necessary, then sticks in the depressed position, leading to acceleration.

I can personally attest to the fact that a car with a stuck accelerator feels like it is taking off like a rocket due to the total lack of control you have as the driver...but when it happened to me in a non-toyota, guess what i did? I pushed the brake, put in in neutral, and pulled over. It took about 8 seconds for all that to happen.

 

[tonyxcom]

Very interesting how the Prius has a software problem with the brakes.

 

[orangeblast22]

Hello all, I am a new member of the board. We have a 2008 V6 SR5 4runner bought new, love the truck, and have about 13K miles so far. This vehicle has an odd habit which we had minimized until the gas pedal, floor mat, software issue surfaced. Maybe once a month or so, sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle will suddenly surge a little, and is controlled easily with the brake, then it goes away. Like an increase of RPM 500 to 800 from idle for just a second or so. Weird. I am wondering, is this is a concern? Anyone else ever have this issue?
Glenn

Hah, I thought I was the only one. So this is normal????

 

[Uneek]

Hello all, I am a new member of the board. We have a 2008 V6 SR5 4runner bought new, love the truck, and have about 13K miles so far. This vehicle has an odd habit which we had minimized until the gas pedal, floor mat, software issue surfaced. Maybe once a month or so, sitting at a stoplight, the vehicle will suddenly surge a little, and is controlled easily with the brake, then it goes away. Like an increase of RPM 500 to 800 from idle for just a second or so. Weird. I am wondering, is this is a concern? Anyone else ever have this issue?
Glenn

Sounds like the notorious "clunk" or the A/C turning off. My $.02

:iagree: It's most likely the AC. My Tacoma exhibits the same issue.

You can test it by lightly holding the brakes and then turn on the AC. The 4Runner will want to lurch forward or feel like you got bumped from behind. FYI, when the windshield defrost is on the AC is automatically activated.

 

[blackmax]

"Now some Toyota drivers are worried about repeats of what happened last month to Michael Teston, a physical therapist from Maunelle, Ark. He was driving a 2006 Toyota 4-Runner -- a brand not included in the recall -- and pulling into a gas station when the car suddenly lunged forward.

"Fortunately, there was a large pole in front of me and it slammed into a pole," he said. "The back wheels were spinning wildly out of control. The back end was bouncing up and down."

Teston said he put the SUV into park, which disengaged the accelerator and caused the back wheel to stop spinning. He said the dealership ran tests on the vehicle but could not find the problem.

Now he is awaiting further direction from Toyota. Because he refused to drive the vehicle back from the dealership, the dealership arranged to send someone to drop the it off at his house, and it is now sitting in his driveway. He said he has filed complaints with the Arkansas attorney general's office and with NHTSA.

"I was not going to drive it because it is a safety hazard," he said. "I think that Toyota should be ashamed of the way they have handled it and they should be held accountable for what they have done."



this is not encouraging at all. Perhaps I will wait until 2011 to purchase 4runner. Sucks.

Here is link

Dealers swamped by worried Toyota drivers - Yahoo! Finance

1) stability control makes tire spin, and thus his story, 100% impossible

2) brakes overpower throttle in pretty much every situation.....it's not even a contest.

3) Turning the key off adds another 100.0000% margin of safety, on top of the 100% by applying the brakes.

I can shenanigans.

While this is an issue for Toyota, I'd say 99.9% of this is just more people who either panic and didn't hit the brakes, and very often, people who want to cash in.

My $.02

 

[p911]

Thanks guys, the a/c thing makes perfect sense. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[jediwebdude]

If this guy really did cause this himself, he sure is brave taking it all the way to the Ark Attny General. I'll admit, I'm skeptical of his claim. I'm on my second 4th gen 4Runner, put lotsa miles on both, and never had an issue with the gas pedal. Never heard of anyone have trouble with a 4R gas pedal. Only reason this is getting attention is because of the recent media hype.

My pro-GM buddies are giving me grief now because every time they prematurely have to replace a transmission, alternator, electronic item, etc...I tell them they shoulda bought a Toyota. So now they think this whole gas pedal thing disproves Consumer Reports reliability ratings on Toyotas. :bash:

 

[ALLEGRO]

paranoia

 

[Uneek]

If this guy really did cause this himself, he sure is brave taking it all the way to the Ark Attny General. I'll admit, I'm skeptical of his claim. I'm on my second 4th gen 4Runner, put lotsa miles on both, and never had an issue with the gas pedal. Never heard of anyone have trouble with a 4R gas pedal. Only reason this is getting attention is because of the recent media hype.

It's happened on more than one 4Runner with more than one member here.

I'm not siding with Toyota or the media. At the same time I don't believe Toyota has told the whole truth. First it was "floormat entrapment," then it was a mechanical problem with the pedal assembly. I would hope Toyota does NOT announce another recall in related to sudden unintended accleration, if they do, they will lose any last bit of credibility they have left. Toyota claims a small number of Toyotas can experience sudden unintended accleration, which is true given the number of Toyotas sold. So we may never experience it in OUR Toyota, but I wouldn't raise the BS flag so quickly.

 

[Uneek]

paranoia

Well they have right to be. I'm not worried about it because :happens:. Just like how some are concerned about 2012. IMO, it's about being at the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time